The CBIC issued Circular No. 29/2025-Customs dated November 21, 2025 regarding the Launch of SWIFT 2.0 and onboarding of AQCS, PQMS and FSSAI on SWIFT 2.0 as Single Touch Point for Trade for NOC Processing.
CBIC, in its continuous efforts toward trade facilitation and enhancement of ease of doing business, is developing Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade (SWIFT 2.0), an upgraded, unified, and fully digital Single Window platform designed to provide a single touch point for importers, exporters, other stakeholders and all Partner Government Agencies in relation to all EXIM processes. SWIFT 2.0 brings enhanced automation, seamless data exchange, and end-to-end digital processing for EXIM clearances involving Partner Government Agencies (PGAs). The earlier version of SWIFT functioned as a document-repository-based NOC clearance system, whereas SWIFT 2.0 is an advanced, fully digital, data-driven platform designed to serve a wide range of trade stakeholders.
The following features will be available to importers, exporters, and other trade stakeholders under SWIFT 2.0-
- Importers and exporters can submit additional data fields and documents which are necessary to obtain No Objection Certificates (NOC) from the PGAs directly in SWIFT 2.0 thereby reducing physical touch point of interaction with PGAs.
- Users can view all their details in a unified dashboard and track responses to queries, as well as review their previous transaction history with any PGA.
- Trade members will receive real-time SMS and email alerts on the status of their NOC applications, ensuring they are promptly informed about any required action.
- Users can make online payments for PGA fees through the system and can obtain digital receipts for their records.
- Trade Stakeholders will be notified of the scheduled date and time of visual inspections by PGAs and can track confirmations directly through the SWIFT 2.0 platform.
- Importers and exporters can digitally view and download the approved NOCs issued by PGAs.
- The trading community will benefit from a seamless experience as all NOC-issuing PGAs are gradually integrated into a single platform, eliminating the need to navigate multiple PGA systems.
As a background, reference is invited to Board Circular No. 09/2015-Cus dated 31.03.2015, Circular 03/2016-Cus dated 03.02.2016, and Circular 10/2016-Cus dated 15.03.2016 regarding the earlier version of SWIFT. These Circulars, in the earlier version of SWIFT, provided integration for NOC / test report for six PGAs viz. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Plant Quarantine (PQ), Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS), Central Drugs Standards Control Organization (CDSCO), Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), and a lab module for the Textile Committee (TC) to provide test-related NOC, for live consignments. This SWIFT platform enabled importers to lodge their clearance documents online through ICEGATE at a single point, facilitated risk-based inspection and obtained online NOC from the PGAs. However, importers were still required to upload additional documents on respective PGA portals if so desired by PGAs for processing NOCs.
SWIFT 2.0 is proposed to onboard over 60 PGAs in a phased manner, incorporating the above features as indicated at para 2. Under the first phase of the SWIFT 2.0 rollout, consolidated lists of data fields/values and mandatory documents required by the following PGAs have been finalised for implementation:
- Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS);
- Plant Quarantine Management System (PQMS);
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
The detailed list of data elements and document codes for AQCS, PQMS, and FSSAI is annexed as Annexure A, B, and C, respectively, for reference.
These data fields/values and mandatory documents have been formulated after inter-ministerial consultations involving the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (DPPQS), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), with the objective of ensuring a single touch point for EXIM clearances for trade.
The finalized data elements and document codes will be effectively implemented through the Integrated Declaration in the Bill of Entry. These data elements and documents are required to be declared/uploaded by the trade at the time of filing the Bill of Entry or by filing the additional details and documents in the unified application dashboard under SWIFT 2.0, wherever import consignments are subjected to clearance by PGAs.
In view of the above, field formations are requested to issue suitable Public Notices/Trade Notices to sensitize stakeholders and ensure accurate filing of the required data/documents. These measures will enhance ease in doing business experience to stakeholders.
DG Systems is advised to issue a detailed advisory in this regard. Mandatory filing for all three PGAs shall be effective from 01.12.2025.
The Circular can be accessed at: https://taxinformation.cbic.gov.in/view-pdf/1003299/ENG/Circulars
